Chapter 138 Cecilia's Firm Attitude
On the big screen, Quinton swept his hand dramatically.
"Now, let's reveal it! This work, its designer is—"
The screen behind him switched.
Next to that stunning chip design, a name slowly appeared.
【Amelia Martinez】
【Number: 108】
In an instant, the entire venue erupted.
Those audience members who had just been attacking contestant 108 with the most vicious language online, those contestants who had been mocking Cecilia in the waiting area—their expressions all froze on their faces, as if they'd been slapped hard by an absurd and intense impact.
After a full five seconds of silence, the live stream comments exploded across the screen at a crazy speed.
【It's her! This world is too insane!】
【I feel so embarrassed. The harder I cursed before, the hotter my face feels now. Sorry Ms. Martinez, I was talking complete nonsense earlier!】
【You call this selling her body for benefits? Fuck you! This is called absolute talent! With Amelia's design skills, why would she need to sell her body for benefits? Stefan is the lucky one to have her!】
【Who said Isadora was the champion? Glacier Diamond and Civilization's Epitaph aren't even in the same league!】
【I'm announcing that from today on, Amelia is my idol! Nobody is allowed to say anything bad about my idol!】
In the contestants' section, Tatum, who had led the mockery of Cecilia earlier, stood with her mouth open, unable to close it.
Vance beside her instinctively shrank his neck, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Around them, more contestants whispered among themselves.
But this time, their words no longer contained contempt—only pure shock and awe.
"Oh my god, how did she think of that? A chip, forgetting, the concept is so sophisticated."
"I was still thinking about how to draw environmental protection, and she's already contemplating the fate of civilization."
"Is this what genius looks like? Are we really in the same competition as her?"
All the contempt, all the jealousy, in the face of Cecilia's absolute talent, became ridiculous self-humiliation.
Isadora sat in the first row. The spotlight burned hot on her, yet she felt a bone-chilling cold.
All the blood in her body rushed to her brain. Her ears filled with chaotic noise. All the amazement and discussion around her became blurred and unclear.
She could only stare fixedly at that name on the screen—Amelia.
How could it be her?
How could it possibly be her!
Amelia wasn't even a designer. That incompetent person, that damn bitch who climbed to high positions through men—how could she possibly design something like this, something that even Sidney admired?
Impossible! Amelia must have cheated!
Right, she must have known the topic in advance!
Isadora's nails dug deep into her palms. The intense pain barely helped her maintain surface composure.
Meanwhile, in the Chapman Group's CEO office.
On the huge LCD screen, the competition was being broadcast live.
Rufus sat alone in the darkness, only the screen's light illuminating his gloomy face. When that chip design appeared, a flash of disbelieving amazement crossed his bloodshot eyes.
Though he didn't understand design, the grandeur and tragedy conveyed by that image, that sense of fate beyond aesthetics—even he, a layman, could clearly perceive it.
This is true genius. The thought flashed uncontrollably through his mind.
Rufus's body lurched forward, his elbows slamming heavily onto the desk.
This is Amelia's work?
His heart was gripped tightly by emotions mixed with rage, jealousy, and some indescribable regret.
She actually has this kind of talent?
Not through Stefan, not through anyone else—she herself possessed a brilliance that even Rufus couldn't ignore.
On the competition floor, Cecilia had already walked to center stage.
She took the microphone from Quinton, her expression calm, showing no pride or excitement over this shocking reversal.
Cecilia calmly swept her gaze across the various expressions below, then fixed her eyes on the main camera lens facing her.
"Thank you for the judges' recognition."
Her voice was clear and crisp, transmitted through the microphone throughout the venue and to every corner of the online broadcast.
"Regarding certain false rumors circulating online, I'd like to respond here."
Isadora's heart instantly jumped to her throat.
"First, I entered this competition because I believe it's a fair and just stage where only the work matters. All my design processes were completed under twenty-four-hour uninterrupted recording by the cameras you see before you, open and transparent."
"For anyone who questions the originality of my work, I welcome you to review the footage anytime, frame by frame, to see how I conceived it, how I drew it."
Cecilia's voice paused, taking on a colder tone.
"But I believe truly skilled designers can see the thought and experience required behind this work, rather than just using their narrow understanding to speculate about others."
These words made a large portion of the contestants' section bow their heads in shame.
"Second, certain accounts have posted misleading photos online and maliciously guided public opinion, fabricating so-called 'rigging' rumors. This has seriously violated my reputation and damaged the competition's credibility."
"I'm not someone who likes to argue with words. I'd rather spend that time drawing more designs."
"So, I've already retained a lawyer to preserve evidence from the source accounts that posted false information."
"According to our country's laws, using information networks to defame others, when the same defamatory information is actually clicked or viewed more than five thousand times, or forwarded more than five hundred times, constitutes the crime of defamation. In serious cases, this carries a sentence of up to three years in prison."
Cecilia clearly recited the legal provisions, each sentence hitting hard.
"I reserve the right to pursue legal responsibility. And to that friend hiding behind the screen, please prepare to receive my lawyer's letter."
At these words, the internet instantly went quiet.
In the contestants' section, Isadora felt a chill shoot from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head. Her hand holding the phone shook violently, almost unable to hold it.
Has she gone crazy? She actually dares to involve the police? And sue her, Isadora?
Isadora never dreamed that Cecilia would respond in such a forceful way.
Cecilia didn't cry or make excuses—she went straight to a lawyer.
Isadora frantically opened that burner account, wanting to delete that tweet, but found her hands shaking so badly she couldn't press the screen accurately.
At the same time, Quinton's bright voice came through the speakers.
"Thank you, Amelia! Your speech, like your work, is full of power!"
"Now, please all participating designers return to your respective studios. The final list of first-round qualifiers will be announced on each studio's screen in fifteen minutes!"